The Egyptian Labor Corps

Kyle J. Anderson is an assistant professor of history at SUNY Old Westbury.

List of AbbreviationsA Note about LanguageAcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1. A Broken PromiseChapter 2. The New CorveeChapter 3. From Home to the FrontChapter 4. "If This Is the Holy Land, What Must Hell Be Like?"Chapter 5. Race and Space in ELC CampsChapter 6. Listening in on the ELCChapter 7. The Men of the ELC Take ActionChapter 8. "I Will Not Accept Slavery!"Chapter 9. The ELC and the 1919 RevolutionConclusionNotesReferencesIndex

[Anderson uncovers] intriguing details about the Egyptian Labor Corps and its influence on the 1919 revolution. Far from being minor historical actors, Anderson understands the men of the ELC as central to the events that wrested Egyptian independence from Britain....well worth a read, especially for those interested in the legacies of empire in the Middle East.-- "Middle East Research and Information Project" (8/1/2022 12:00:00 AM) This is an attractive, informative and well-researched account...Anderson has successfully provided an innovative interpretation of a critical period when Egyptians were seeking to imagine a post-Ottoman and postcolonial future for their country that sheds important light on the nature and legacy of British imperial practices and recognises a range of inspirations that informed Egyptian national visions.-- "Contemporary Levant" (12/29/2022 12:00:00 AM) [The Egyptian Labor Corps] makes creative and thorough use of a wide range of available source materials to produce a compelling vignette of a critical and largely forgotten moment in Egyptian and colonial history. It makes a solid contribution to the literature on race and racialization in Egypt, with much more wide ranging implications for British imperial history. It also offers intriguing depth to the later complexities of Egyptian nationalism's place within pan-Arabism and pan-Africanism.--Marc Lynch "Middle East and Northern Africa Academy" (11/5/2022 12:00:00 AM) Anderson offers a multifaceted history of the half a million Egyptian logistical laborers involved in the Allied war effort during World War I...The Egyptian Labor Corps is a timely example of the productive avenues that open when race and racialized experience are incorporated into once-familiar narratives. Anderson displays a sensitivity to the source material and generosity toward his subjects. Accessible writing and short thematic chapters make this recommended reading for an informed general audience and academic readers alike.-- "International Journal of Middle East Studies" (5/8/2023 12:00:00 AM) For scholars with an interest in World War I, labor history, or the multifaceted impacts of colonialism and war, The Egyptian Labor Corps comes highly recommended. Its rich portrayal of the laborers' experiences will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on readers, furthering our understanding of the often-unseen actors who played vital roles during this significant historical period.-- "History: Reviews of New Books" (10/30/2023 12:00:00 AM)